The two girls darted into the bushes, but not quickly enough to evade the eyes of the two men, who at once urged their horses and overtook the flying girls.
“Ha, my dear,” said Black Will, placing himself in front of Sadie, and effectually barring her further flight. “I did not expect to meet you so soon.”
“Do not stop me, Will Jackwood,” cried Sadie. “You have been punished once to-day for your insolence. Joe Bent is not far away.”
“He is safe from me for this day, for he has my word,” replied Black Will. “But, when we meet again, one or the other goes down.”
“Threats do not hurt the absent,” was the quiet reply. “Let me pass at once.”
“Not so fast. I shall not have a better opportunity than this, and must entreat you to come with me.”
Unconsciously, in their walk, the girls had come some distance from the house, and at that quiet hour few persons were abroad. Sadie understood the object of Black Will. It was to seize and carry her away for the purpose of forcing her to become his wife. He sprung out of the saddle, and menacing her with instant death if she cried out, hurried toward her, when a new and unexpected obstacle stood in his path. Minneoba had been almost unnoticed by the two scoundrels, and seeing that Dick Garrett was employed in holding the horses, the brave girl suddenly strung her bow, and fitting an arrow hastily, sprung in between Black Will and his intended victim, and he recoiled with a cry of rage, as the bright point of the arrow glittered in the light.
“Minneoba, by all the devils! Out of my path, girl, or a worse thing may come to you.”
But Minneoba did not move, her bright eyes fixed upon the form of the would-be abductor in a way which he did not like.
“Sadie is the friend of the Sac girl,” she said, quietly. “You shall not touch her while I live.”